Sri Lanka: the inhabitants of the island increasingly exhausted by the crisis
Sri Lankans demand the resignation of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa due to the severe economic crisis the indebted country is going through, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Sunday, April 10, 2022. © Eranga Jayawardena, AP
Text by: Côme Bastin Follow
5 mins
Irrepayable foreign debt, lack of foreign currency... For several months, Sri Lanka has been sinking into an unprecedented economic and social crisis, under the combined effect of Covid-19 and poor economic choices.
The inhabitants have to face shortages that affect all sectors, and galloping inflation.
The population revolts against the power in place, held responsible for the ruin of the country.
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From our special correspondent in Colombo and Galle,
It's the eve of the Sri Lankan New Year, in the big market of Colombo.
Even though fruit and vegetable prices have tripled, Suneetha, 59 and mother of five, is keen to ward off fate.
We used to eat three times a day, now we have one big meal.
Tomorrow, however, I would like us to be able to celebrate as a family normally
In March, the price of foodstuffs soared by 30% in Sri Lanka, after 17% during the month of February.
"
It's true that it has become overpriced, but we have no choice
," explains a carrot seller.
Agricultural production has collapsed and the cost of transporting goods has increased due to gasoline shortages.
»
At the origin of this inflation: the ban on the import of chemical fertilizers decreed in April 2021. This shift towards organic farming without transition has proven to be counterproductive, explains farmer Premadasa Idamalgoda, near the city of Wales.
“
We are not provided with organic training or natural fertilizers.
My tea plans are in terrible shape.
I harvest four times less than before!
»
Failing to produce enough, Sri Lanka is forced to import food at high prices.
The shelves of some grocery stores are emptying.
“
Normally, I offer rice, sugar, milk powder,
testifies a seller.
But it got too expensive, so I only sell cigarettes and sodas.
»
If the island's food security is not quickly restored, the speaker of the Parliament of Sri Lanka does not hesitate to speak of the risk of famine.
But the food emergency is only one of the many facets of the ordeal that the inhabitants face on a daily basis.
►Read again: When electricity runs out, all economic activity comes to a standstill
The worst is oil, which the country, for lack of foreign currency, can no longer import in sufficient quantities.
"
I've been waiting for a little gas for half an hour, sometimes it's more than two hours
," grumbled a Rickshaw driver in one of the many queues in front of Colombo's gas stations.
A little further, Nikula, 44, came with five gas canisters that she absolutely needs to fill.
“
It's very heavy, but even if it means queuing, you might as well stock up.
Meanwhile, I can't run my restaurant
!
I have to earn good money for my children who are unemployed because of the crisis.
»
Residents line up for gas in the monsoon, Colombo.
© RFI / Como Bastin
Without oil, the power stations cannot operate either.
And while waiting for the monsoon, the hydroelectric dams are dry.
The result is daily power cuts that paralyze economic life.
“
We are sent a schedule specifying at what time the power will be cut.
But it never goes as planned
, ”describes Soffyan Ahmed, head of an IT company, who fears having to part with his fifteen employees.
“
We can't manage to work more than two or three hours a day!
»
"
We can't do anything without the Internet and without a computer
," says Havish Sivana, 28, who is demonstrating against power cuts on behalf of new technology professionals.
“
We are one of the sectors that brings in the most dollars in the Sri Lankan economy.
By preventing us from working, we are making the crisis worse.
»
For several weeks, the population has been beating the pavement against shortages and the economic chaos towards which the country is plunging.
The demonstrators are now sedentary in front of the palace of President Gotabaya Rajapaksa to demand his resignation.
Tents, food stalls and infirmaries sprang up to maintain the siege day and night.
►Also listen: In Sri Lanka, "we have extremely bad governance"
Cornered by the revolt, the Prime Minister tries to give guarantees: appointment of an independent governor at the Central Bank, opening of negotiations with the IMF to restructure the debt.
He even offered to meet the protesters.
“
It is not those who created the chaos who will be able to solve it
”, declines a demonstrator.
This Monday, April 14, Sri Lankans celebrate the Sri Lankan New Year, which brings together Buddhists and Hindus.
With her family, Danush Kapinto came to boil milk in front of the presidential palace, a ceremony symbol of fertility.
"
This crisis will at least have allowed Sri Lankans to turn the page on the divisions of the past,
" he said.
But the real New Year will begin when this government leaves power.
»
Enough is enough !
Why would they do now what they didn't do before?
The Rajapaksa must leave power.
The next government will have to learn the lessons of this crisis
Audio report: Protests continue in Sri Lanka
Como Bastin
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Sri Lanka
Gotabaya Rajapaksa